Latest news with #LGBTQIA-plus
The Herald Scotland
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
'Compared to Tommy Robinson' - Nurses hit out at RCN on gender ruling
Now, two other Scots nurses have provided a detailed account of what they call the 'extremely hostile atmosphere' they experienced for raising concerns about women's single-sex spaces, such as bathrooms and changing rooms. This came to a head during two RCN online engagement sessions on the Supreme Court Judgment on Legal Definition of Sex in the Equality Act 2010. Between them, they have more than 60 years of practice experience in nursing. One of them, Jenny Wilmott, said she was subjected to a ferocious onslaught by other members when she sought to provide her views on the Supreme Court judgment. The other, a globally renowned specialist in clinical nursing and a Quality Improvement Chair, wishes to remain anonymous for the time being as she considers future options. She said she'd been 'thrown out of the session' after she'd attempted to voice concerns about some of the responses she was hearing. Read more This is the verbatim account of what each of them told me over the course of Saturday and Sunday. Jenny Wilmott has been a practice nurse for more than 20 years. She said: 'I received an email from the RCN inviting members to sign up for one of the six online sessions and two in-person sessions to discuss the Supreme Court verdict. 'These were described as a chance to re-shape the union's professional guidance and positioning. They were framed as safe and inclusive spaces to share our thoughts. The opening statement in the email invitations included a lengthy message of support of all 'LGBTQIA-plus members'. 'I'm one of the founders of Scottish Lesbians [a pressure group] and we had been invited to make an intervention in the Supreme Court proceedings. As such, I emailed the RCN, stating who I was and asking if there was anything I could do to help with these engagement sessions. I received no reply. 'There were around 40 participants and the session began with an introduction from the facilitator, who was also the professional lead for the RCN. She talked about issues around psychological safety and how some people might be feeling overwhelmed. She also warned that if the meeting became unsafe then it could be ended prematurely. 'There then followed a video by the director of Legal Employment and Member Relations. The video recounted what had led to the Supreme Court judgment. It was very clear and succinct and there was no hint of any spin. She made it clear that the RCN should wait for EHRC guidance. Sandie Peggie says she will sue the Royal College of Nursing (Image: Colin Mearns) 'We were invited to ask questions about these issues by way of raising a virtual hand. Several people spoke to express their concern and confusion about the Supreme Court ruling. 'I said I was from Scottish Lesbians and that I'd felt relieved when the judgment was announced. 'I expressed concern that the ruling was being framed as complicated when it was actually quite simple. I was thanked for saying this 'in a respectful manner'. 'A man identifying as a woman said he disagreed with me completely, but did so in what I considered to be a reasonable and respectful manner. The Facilitator said it was good that there was a diversity of opinion. 'Then the online chat facility opened up. One person was unhappy about the 'diversity of voices' and added: 'Are we going to invite Tommy Robinson next'? And then 'there's a bigot in every community'. This was clearly directed at me. 'The insults went on and on. It's not nice to hear these things being said about you. The atmosphere had turned to one of absolute hostility. 'There was a clear assumption that anyone who falls into the category of LGBTQI-plus would be horrified by the Supreme Court result. No one imagined that anyone could have welcomed it. 'An incident at the end left me very shaken. One woman said that views like mine were racist; that I was a terf; that exclusionary people like me shouldn't be given a platform and that my words were a danger to vulnerable people. 'Making an accusation like this is the worst you can level at a nurse. "I raised my hand to speak. However my microphone wasn't enabled and so I never got the chance. 'I came out of that session feeling that, while it might have been safe for others, it certainly wasn't a safe space for me.' The second RCN member who approached The Herald, had attended a different online engagement session on June 25. She said: 'This was an RCN event billed as being about the legal ramifications and impact on the nursing profession of the Supreme Court judgment. 'Initially I thought: 'this sounds interesting and it feels like progress. The RCN might be wanting to engage with taking it forward in a collegiate and safe way to ensure compliance with the law and upholding the main tenets of nursing: caring compassion'. 'The letter I received from the RCN alluded to sensitivities and safety issues, but I didn't see any of them being mitigated. I thought it would be a straightforward discussion about policy to ensure it was at one with current law. Why would that be unsafe … unless you're predicting that something unprofessional was taking place? Professionalism implies an element of safety. 'When the event began, I noticed that the chat facility was closed and that our mics and cameras were off. You had to put up a virtual hand up if you wanted to say anything. 'However, the Q&A facility was open and there were about 40 participants. The chair was the professional lead for the Executive Nurse network. She is also a Professional Learning Facilitator. She was followed by the RCN Executive Director Legal, Employment and Member Relations who made a presentation on what the Supreme Court had said. It was clear and concise and I was encouraged by it. She described what it meant and how we had to develop policy and practice around that. 'We then watched a video in which a two-year trans-identified male said he'd felt unable to venture out of the house after the Supreme Court judgment. 'I wanted to say: 'Fear not: your rights have not been rolled back. We'll all make sure your protected characteristics are the same as women. We're all going to be equal now'. 'I tried to unmute my mic and my camera, but kept getting a screen pop-up saying the organisers had disabled my mic and camera. I tried logging in and out, but to no avail. 'A number of uniformed female nurses, who all seemed to be on duty, made comments about how terrible they felt about the Supreme Court judgment and how their trans friends were very upset. There was no policy discussion. 'The facilitator then said: 'I just want to reassure everyone we are engaging with a range of opinions of stakeholders around governing policy'. This included a trans organisation. 'I asked: 'How are you engaging with women', but my question was held 'in review'. 'Then I got a private reply from the Equality, Diversity and Programme lead, asking me to email her privately. I asked her in turn if she was telling me that they weren't engaging with women. But she continued to insist that I get in touch with her privately to discuss the matter. Yet, this was meant to be an open session about developing policy. 'I made a comment to the effect that gender isn't a protected characteristic but that gender-re-assigned was. I said that all minorities need protected. And that we needed to be careful that we operate within the law and according to guidance. 'That drew gasps from a previous speaker, who then started to cry. There were expressions of shock. 'Some participants became very upset and stated how discriminatory my comment was. Yet all I'd stated was fact. 'It was jaw-dropping stuff. Where has my profession gone? This session was meant to be about developing policy for everyone. Why was it being hijacked by an exclusively trans discussion? It was assumed that if you said anything in accordance with the law it was discriminatory. Read more 'I said we needed to be careful about the language we use in developing policy. We need to be sure as a profession and as a Royal College that we are in step with what is understood in the law and not by a policy group. However, my comments were all held in review and not shown. 'Then I found out that I'd been kicked out of the session. I knew this because my screen went blank and a message flashed up saying: 'You've left'.' An RCN spokesperson said: 'We have been holding a variety of online and in person engagement events regarding the Supreme Court decision. It is vital that the RCN hear views from our members on this subject. We recognise that our members have diverse views and do stress that they should engage in a respectful way. 'The well-being of those who attend and participate in such events is a priority for the RCN as set out in our earlier messaging regarding these events. We are therefore saddened to hear of the experiences of these members and will reach out to the member identified.'
Chicago Tribune
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Pride Fest in Irwin Park: ‘Homewood has my back'
Homewood's Amy Crump wore a blue T-shirt with a humorous message on the front. It said, 'I don't mind straight people as long as they act gay in public.' For the record, Crump is not gay and has been married for 38 years. However, she does have three gay children and that's one of the reasons she has attended all three of the Homewood-Flossmoor Pride Fests, including this year's version, which took place Friday at Irwin Park in Homewood. 'I'm all about supporting the people who are not the same as us,' she said. Crump said such pride events are a step in the right direction, even through there is still a lot of resistance when it comes to accepting gays and their lifestyles. 'We haven't come far enough but we are a lot farther than we were,' she said. 'But love is love is love.' Her daughter, 25-year-old Mica Crump, attended Friday's celebration and said she is proudly gay. She appreciates being able to come out to an event such as Pride Fest and feel comfortable. 'I love that this suburb is doing this,' she said. 'A lot of suburbs don't have this. It's something you see in the city. But Homewood has my back. I like it here.' Mica was active in Homewood-Flossmoor High School's Gay-Straight Alliance and said she found acceptance there. She liked Pride Fest is able to draw different types of people, including families. 'It makes me so happy to see the little kid wearing the pride merch,' Mica said. The fest featured food, drinks, vendors offering various services and music from The Divas and the Bel Canto Choir. Organizers said the first two Pride Fests drew between 1,200 and 1,400 patrons. There were a few speeches regarding the importance of the fest, inclusion and continuing the fight for acceptance. U.S. Robin Kelly, the 2nd District representative who announced in May that she is running for the U.S. Senate, spoke about not giving up the fight. 'Despite what looks like an ugly climate and despite what is an ugly climate, those of us out here and beyond are saying they are not taking this,' she said. 'Do me a favor. Do not get weary. That's what they want you to do. 'We have to fight the good fight and we have allies in congress. Many allies,' Kelly said. She said that everyone needs to stay together and respect each other. 'At the end of the day, we are all human beings,' she said. 'We all have something to contribute to this society. 'I want you to know I am fighting the good fight for you in Washington and I will continue to fight that fight,' she said. Park District Recreation Supervisor Zac Kerby urged patrons at the fest to have fun but to reflect on the struggles that gay and trans people have to go through. 'It's more than a celebration,' he said. 'It's a reminder of how far we've come and how much further we still have to go. 'Today, we honor the courage, the resilience and the joy of the LGBTQIA-plus community. Here in this space, everyone is seen and everyone is heard. Everyone is valued.' Homewood-Flossmoor Park Board member Angie Coderre wore a shirt that said 'Gay Mom' and although her two young children were not interested in addressing the crowd, she had good things to say about the success of Pride Fest. 'Today is always a special day for me personally,' she said. 'I came back here to raise my family with my wife and two kids. This always touches my heart in a way that is impossible without this community.' Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld gave a brief welcome and Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson led crowd in a chant. 'Thank you for coming out to support individuals in their journey to find love, acceptance and resiliency,' Nelson said. 'That journey is so much better when you are not doing it alone. It's important to have the support of friends, family and neighbors.' The fest is a collaboration of the Park District and the two villages. Oralethea Davenport, who manages special events for the Park District, said the first two years were successful. 'It's one of our largest attended events,' she said. 'And this is an event for anyone and everyone. Families. Individuals. Supporters, Everyone. 'Anyone who wants to come out is more than welcome.'
ABC News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Tasmanian equality campaigner Rodney Croome 'overjoyed' at Burnie Council's LGBTIQA+ advisory group
As Burnie City Council voted to establish an LGBTIQA+ advisory group on Tuesday night, members of the community applauded from the gallery — among them long-time equality campaigner Rodney Croome. Councillors voted 8 to 1 to develop the advisory group and develop an action plan to address discrimination. Mr Croome — a prominent advocate for LGBTIQA+ people in Tasmania for over 30 years and a key voice during Tasmania's decriminalisation debates in the 1990s — said he was "overjoyed" by the result. Photo shows The rainbow pride flag flying above town hall and people gather below it. Ulverstone, a town once the flashpoint for the debate on decriminalising homosexuality in Tasmania, raises the rainbow pride flag over its council chambers. "As someone who's been involved in that 30-year journey for Tasmania, this is one of the most important milestones for me," Mr Croome said. "It might seem like something small to others, that the council is simply convening a group and developing a document. "But the council's support for greater inclusion sends a really strong message that the North West Coast and Tasmania in general have really turned a corner." During the 1990s when there were anti-gay rallies in Burnie and in other parts of the state, Mr Croome said he hoped Tasmania could become a more inclusive and equal society, but it was hard to imagine at the time. "I certainly wouldn't have imagined the Burnie City Council taking such proactive steps to foster inclusion for LGBTQIA-plus people," he said. Rodney Croome pictured during his arrest in 1988 at Hobart's Salamanca Market for defying a ban on a stall featuring petitions to decriminalise homosexual activity. ( Supplied: Roger Lovell ) Deputy Mayor Giovanna Simpson tabled the motion and said she was overwhelmed by the "support and passion" of the people in the gallery. "I'm just really happy that it's passed, and we can actually move forward with this and get something in place so that everyone feels safe and secure," Cr Simpson said. 'We were behind' The new advisory group and action will follow the lead of other councils across Tasmania, who have taken similar steps to consult local LGBTIQA+ communities and develop action plans to fight discrimination, and improve inclusivity. The adoption of action plans by other councils include the training of council staff in LGBTQIA+ related issues, and in developing more inclusive services for the community. Deputy Mayor Giovanna Simpson tabled the motion. ( ABC News: Lachlan Bennett ) Cr Simpson said the existence of these action plans in other municipalities prompted her to ask why Burnie wasn't doing the same. "We were behind, definitely … I don't want it to be that way anymore," she said. While other councils in the state have implemented action plans, Burnie City Council is the first in the state's North West coast to do so, a fact that Mr Croome applauds. "I've got no doubt that Burnie's leadership on this issue will encourage other municipalities particularly in the North West of Tasmania to do the same," he said. While the motion had broad support from councillors, a single vote against the motion came from Cr Trent Aitken, who proposed an alternative motion deferring judgement on the group's establishment to the general public, via an elector's poll. "I believe we need to be fair and just to all groups in the community. But the motion before us, asks us to take another step, and to put one group of people above another. I can not support that, as we should all be equal," Cr Aitken said. Croome warns against complacency If you or anyone you know needs help: Mr Croome says he hopes overwhelming support for the motion will move Cr Aitken to reconsider his views. "I hope it sends a message to counsellor Aitken that he really needs to sit back and think about his views and his expression of those, that he'll take the opportunity to go out and talk to LGBTQIA+ people living in Burnie and find out what their lives are really like," he said. The council will now consult with members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their families, as well as service providers to develop the new action plan. Despite the progress that Tasmania has made on LGBTQIA+ issues, Mr Croome said advocates for equality shouldn't become complacent in fighting discrimination and stigma. "To have councils like the Burnie City Council sending such a strong message of inclusion helps us to address that continuing prejudice and discrimination," Mr Croome said.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Transgender reference removed from Stonewall National Monument website
NEW YORK (PIX11) — The National Park Service removed the reference to the transgender community on the Stonewall National Monument's website. The change came after President Donald Trump's executive order to recognize only two genders. More Local News 'I was personally offended, deeply offended, that the National Park Service would go so far as to align themselves with Donald Trump's anti-trans rhetoric,' said Angelica Christina, board member of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. 'The Stonewall Inn is a beacon of hope for the LGBTQIA-plus community, going back to the Stonewall riots.' The Stonewall Riots were sparked by a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village. The rough treatment from police led to six days of protests and clashes with law enforcement. The events were pivotal in the gay rights movement in the United States. Both gay and transgender patrons fought back against police during the riots. On Sunday, the website still had references to transgender and queer references. 'Before the 1960s, almost everything about living openly as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+) person was illegal, but the events at the Stonewall Inn sparked fresh momentum for the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement,' read a snapshot from the WayBack Machine taken on Sunday. By Thursday, the letters 'T' and 'Q' were cut from various references to the acronym LGBTQ and replaced with phrases like the 'LGB rights movement' or 'LGB civil rights,' according to the website. 'Right now, we need to let our voices be heard,' said Stacy Lentz, an LGBTQ+ advocate and co-owner of the Stonewall Inn. 'We need to call on all Democrats to stand up and protect the trans community. The one thing we can't do right now is just roll over and let trans people be erased from public life, and so as a community, I know that we're all going to come together and fight like crazy.' Former President Barack Obama formally recognized the Stonewall site as a national monument on June 24, 2016, making it the first U.S. national monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights, The Hill reported. The National Parks Service did not immediately respond to PIX11's request for comment. This story comprises reporting from The Associated Press. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
